Government Institutions
How is the president of China (a.k.a. the General Secretary of the CCP) chosen?
Appointed by the Politburo
Why was civil society almost nonexistent in the early days of the PRC?
Any organization not affiliated with the CCP was seen as a threat
Its role in which historical event gave the PRI political legitimacy during its century-long rule?
Mexican Revolution of 1910
What is the only level of Chinese society that allows some competitive elections?
Village-level party elections
What is the "one country, two systems" policy in China and how is it causing problems today?
It allows Hong Kong and Macau to have independent political and economic systems but still be part of China. The CCP is trying to erode this system and exert more control over Hong Kong and Macau, resulting in protests in Hong Kong
What system does Mexico use to elect their president?
First-past-the-post direct voting
Religious groups
What happened to the Republic of China government after the Chinese Civil War?
It fled to Taiwan, where it still claims to be the rightful government of China.
China hands out what kind of criminal sentences more than any other country?
Death sentences
Why does Mexico struggle to fully implement democracy in many rural areas?
Cartel violence results in voter intimidation and influences the outcome of elections, even resulting in the murder of candidates
How is China's Politburo selected?
Through appointment by the Central Committee, itself appointed by the National Party Congress
Explain co-optation and give an example of when it was used.
Bringing a representative of a rival faction into your government just to satisfy their group without giving them any real power. Mexico after the student protests in 1968.
What two cities are Special Administrative Regions of China?
Hong Kong and Macau
How do Mexico and China differ in regard to presidential term limits?
Mexico limits its presidents to one six-year term, while Chinese presidents no longer have term limits.
What population issue is China struggling with now? What was its cause?
China is struggling with a low birth rate and a population that will decline. This resulted from its one-child policy
Why is Mexico considered to not have a fully independent judiciary?
Judges can now be elected by the people, but only after approval by Congress, which makes judges subject to political party approval
What kind of civil society organizations brought down the PRI dictatorship by supporting a rival party?
Business owners
In what year was Mexico's first democratic election? Which party won?
2000, the PAN
How are minority political parties in China different from minority parties in Mexico?
Minority parties in China are strictly controlled by the CCP and only represent specific interests; they have no actual opposing power. Mexican minority parties have their own policies and can run and oppose the government freely.
Why are Mexico and the United States fighting over immigration?
The U.S. enforces a "remain in Mexico" policy for all asylum seekers, which puts a burden on Mexican border towns
How is China's premier (prime minister) chosen?
Appointed by the president from the Standing Committee and approved by the National People's Congress
Why has China's hukou system deepened the rural/urban cleavage?
Rural hukous can only be changed to urban ones after the sale of rural land. Rural hukous have less access to social services like hospitals and lower pensions.
In 2008, protests broke out in which Chinese province during which major event?
In Tibet during the Summer Olympics
How are members of the Mexican Chamber of Deputies chosen?
300 members are chosen in first-past-the-post elections for single-member districts, while 200 are chosen by proportional representation based on political party turnout in the election
What was the "iron rice bowl" program and how did it lead to the Tiananmen Square massacre?
It was lifetime job security under Mao. Deng Xiaoping eliminated most iron-rice-bowl jobs, leading to student protests against unemployment that resulted in the massacre